BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The soft mechanical hum from the Peeps production line at Just Born Quality Confections in Bethlehem has recently resumed. Those machines went silent due to the pandemic and resulted in the absence of the holiday staple.
“To be a good corporate citizen and to help flatten the curve, we decided to halt production in March and we resumed in early May, with limited production, to make sure all of our associates were safe,” according to Just Born spokeswoman Caitlin Servian.
The popular candy, produced locally since 1953, was not available over Christmas, Thanksgiving or during the candy-bonanza that is Halloween. But, Servian says, the confectioner always planned to have Peeps back in stores this spring. And she says they didn’t lay anybody off.
“We also paid all of our associates while production was halted as well,” Servian says.
As Peeps return, there will be new flavors on store shelves, like Peeps that taste like Hot Tamales cinnamon candy and a Peeps Froot Loops-flavored pop.
